The Impact of Lifetime Knowledge on Memory Clutter in Older Adults
Seniors aren’t much different than when they were younger. Some are great folks, some aren’t. Some use their experience and knowledge to develop wisdom, while others are just a hole in the community. Some are lovable old farts, and some are bitter jerks. Enjoy your grandma while you can.
Memory Challenges in Seniors
A lot of seniors facing memory problems are not struggling with what happened 40 years ago but where they put their car keys today. For some of us, there may be a limit to how much we can remember at one time.
Can Knowledge Clutter Memories?
Facts might clutter your mind, but with focus and intent, organization and order are possible and rewarding. The brain is designed to store an infinite amount of information, and depending on the type of memory, it's stored in different areas of the brain. The basal ganglia store implicit memory like motor movements and habits, while the cerebellum is responsible for the timing and execution of learned and skilled motor movements. Long-term recollection memories of life are stored in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus.
Growing and Organizing Knowledge
Knowledge continues to grow, sometimes with unnecessary bits and pieces, and sometimes with things that remain relevant. It's essential to develop wisdom through experience. Repetition is one of the greatest teaching tools, often surpassing the original knowledge. It's like learning to woodwork; each new experience, using different woods and tools, becomes finer tuned and more artistic. The first piece of wood is only a starting point, and with each piece of wood, we become better at our craft.
Knowledge grows and expands, and in the process, the person expanding is also the student of each piece of new information. The knowledge is fine-tuned, and when the wood, the teacher, and the process finally come together, this is where fine art arrives. An effort after learning always leads to something better and better. As for the clutter of knowledge, it too has its place like my old friend who knew all the answers to Trivial Pursuit. However, this wasn't something that continued to grow and expand; it was more about memory clutter and not essential.
The Role of Passion in Skill Development
I have watched many masters play classical guitar, have had master classes, and have even mastered the violin, flute, and horns. Even with my passion, the level of true mastery didn't exceed 30 years of experience. While it felt self-defeating at times, I eventually started to enjoy my journey with my guitar. When one takes up anything with passion and desire, there comes a point when the student, the instrument, and the music become linked in ways most people can never understand. Or when a lawyer has gained a thorough knowledge of their profession, they become greater than the sum total of their knowledge.
Managing Cluttered Thoughts
Clutter can be debilitating for some; too many thoughts rolling around and being unable to choose the best one for the situation. But that is another issue not covered here. Thoughts can take on a life of their own, and that rolling clutter needs a good rein to keep those thoughts from stampeding everywhere. This control is necessary, and once a person learns to take the reins of their thoughts, it becomes a very powerful tool to have mastered.
Life as a Continual Work in Progress
My mind feels like an attic with dust and cobwebs covering the corners, and it's time to do some housecleaning. Sorting, dusting, and cleaning to toss out what is not useful or relevant is a continuous process. The brain can hold more than all the knowledge available, but the safety valve is that life is too short to accumulate it all, or we just might pop a cork. Even though historical figures like Michaelangelo were polymaths, adept in many areas, we can all strive to be more than 'jacks of all trades or masters of only one.' It just takes lots of training and a desire to do so. My process is always ongoing, and as I sort out the good stuff from the irrelevant, I cherish the cobwebs and dust I have accumulated, making it a work in progress for as long as I live.
Conclusion
While it's essential to organize life's experiences and knowledge, the journey of continual learning and development is worth every bit of effort. Embrace memory clutter as a part of the learning process, and keep pursuing wisdom and knowledge.